Maine Memory Network

Eastern's Closing

Text by Ian Jesse

Audio from Maine Folklife Center

In 2004 The Eastern Fine paper mill closed permanently and employees had strong opinions about the reasons for the closing. Different opinions may be due to the changes that took place at the time when they worked there.

Many of the employees who first worked under Bruce Hamilton and then Joe Torras felt Torras was to blame while many who started working at the mill after Torras had purchased Eastern had different reactions. Yet there is no simple answer why some employees blamed Torras while others did not.

Some employees had no idea the mill was going to close, while others believed that they could see it coming. While they cannot agree on why it closed, most would agree that its closure not only affected them and their families, but also the entire Brewer community.

View the slideshow to listen to former employees talk about the closure of the Eastern Fine Paper mill.